US5987979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for detecting railtrack failures by comparing data from a plurality of railcars
Assignee: Cairo Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-11-30
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2018-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A technique for monitoring anomalies in a railway system 400 to predict a future track behavior. The technique uses a motion sensor 207, 209 operably coupled to a chassis of a rail car 101 to detect a possibility of an event which may correspond to an anomaly in the railway system. A global positioning sensor (GPS) 213 operably coupled to the chassis detects a geographical location of the rail car 101 at a time corresponding to the event, which correlates the anomaly to the geographical location and the time. The technique also uses a processor 301 operably coupled to the motion sensor 207, 209 to direct a signal corresponding to the event and a recorder 215 operably coupled to the processor 301 to log the signal which may correspond to the anomaly and the geographical location of the rail car corresponding to the event. A central station 104 tracks and analyzes the anomaly over time to predict a possible defect in the railway system using a record of the events over time.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Bryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:31
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/04; B61L23/042; B61L23/044; B61K; B61K9/00; B61K9/08; B61L23/048; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/021; B61L25/023; B61L25/025; E; E01; E01B; E01B35/00; E01B35/06; B61L2205/00; B61L2205/04; G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of detecting conditions of a railway system to predict a possible track failure, said method comprising: detecting a first intensity value of an anomaly in a railway system using a first motion sensor operably coupled to a first moving rail car in a railway system; detecting a second intensity value of said anomaly in said railway system using a second motion sensor operably coupled to a second moving rail car in said railway system; and comparing said first intensity value to said second intensity value to identify a possible increase in a magnitude of said anomaly to predict a behavior of said anomaly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of detecting conditions of a railway system to predict a possible track failure, said method comprising: detecting a first intensity value of an anomaly in a railway system using a first motion sensor operably coupled to a first moving rail car in a railway system; detecting a second intensity value of said anomaly in said railway system using a second motion sensor operably coupled to a second moving rail car in said railway system; and comparing said first intensity value to said second intensity value to identify a possible increase in a magnitude of said anomaly to predict a behavior of said anomaly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a track location of said anomaly using a positioning system operably coupled to said first moving rail car.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a track location of said anomaly using a global positioning sensor operably coupled to said second moving rail car.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a third intensity value of said anomaly using a third motion sensor operably coupled to a third rail car.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first moving rail car detects the first intensity value at a time substantially different from when said second moving rail car detects the second intensity value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting of said first intensity value occurs at a different time from said detecting of said second intensity value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anomaly is a rail track defect, said rail track defect is selected from a group consisting of a faulty rail tie, a faulty track, soil displacement, gravel displacement, and erosion of timber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the behavior is a possibility of a rail car derailment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said first intensity value and said second intensity value in a memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first intensity value is detected at a first time and said second intensity value is detected at a second time, said first time occurring before said second time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of detecting conditions of a railway system to predict a possible track failure, said method comprising: detecting a plurality of intensity values of an anomaly in a railway system at a geographical location over time using a motion sensor operably coupled to a moving rail car in said railway system; and analyzing said intensity values of said anomaly to identify a possible increase in a magnitude of said anomaly over time to predict a behavior of said anomaly.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of detecting conditions of a railway system to predict a possible track failure, said method comprising: detecting a plurality of intensity values of an anomaly in a railway system at a geographical location over time using a motion sensor operably coupled to a moving rail car in said railway system; and analyzing said intensity values of said anomaly to identify a possible increase in a magnitude of said anomaly over time to predict a behavior of said anomaly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising ascertaining said geographical location of said anomaly using a global positioning sensor operably coupled to said moving rail car in said railway system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said anomaly is a rail track defect, said rail track defect is selected from a group consisting of a faulty rail tie, a faulty track, soil displacement, gravel displacement, and erosion of timber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the behavior comprises a rail car derailment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising storing said intensity values in a memory.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for detecting track failures in a railway system, said system comprising: a plurality of rail car units to be operable in a railway system; a tracking device on each of said rail car units for detecting an anomaly in said railway system, said tracking device including: a sensor comprising a motion sensor to be coupled to a chassis of a rail car; a global positioning sensor (GPS) to be coupled to said chassis; and a processing means coupled to said GPS and coupled to said motion sensor for detecting a magnitude value of the anomaly at a geographical location over time and for comparing said magnitude value to previously detected values to identify a possible increase in the magnitude of said anomaly to predict a behavior of said anomaly; and a tracking station for receiving data related to said anomaly from tracking device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for detecting track failures in a railway system, said system comprising: a plurality of rail car units to be operable in a railway system; a tracking device on each of said rail car units for detecting an anomaly in said railway system, said tracking device including: a sensor comprising a motion sensor to be coupled to a chassis of a rail car; a global positioning sensor (GPS) to be coupled to said chassis; and a processing means coupled to said GPS and coupled to said motion sensor for detecting a magnitude value of the anomaly at a geographical location over time and for comparing said magnitude value to previously detected values to identify a possible increase in the magnitude of said anomaly to predict a behavior of said anomaly; and a tracking station for receiving data related to said anomaly from tracking device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |